EV Charging Terminology

6 mA DC leakage detection identifies residual direct current at a level that may affect the operation of upstream RCDs. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

BS 7671 is the UK national standard for electrical installations, covering the design, erection, inspection, testing and verification of low-voltage electrical systems. Section 722 contains specific requirements for supplies to electric vehicles.

Built-in overcurrent protection means the charger includes internal protection against excessive current under specified conditions. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

CB Certification refers to the IECEE CB Scheme, an international system for recognising electrical product safety test reports and certificates between participating certification bodies. A CB certificate is normally supported by a CB test report against relevant IEC standards.

An earth electrode is a conductive part placed in the ground to provide an electrical connection to earth. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

EN 60364-7-722 is the European and international low-voltage installation standard for supplies to electric vehicles and related EV charging circuits. It formed the basis for EV charging installation requirements that have been incorporated into the UK through BS 7671 Section 722.

EN 62955 is the UK-relevant BS EN IEC standard for Residual Direct Current Detecting Devices used in Mode 3 EV charging equipment. It is commonly associated with 6 mA DC residual current detection and how EV chargers interact with upstream RCD protection.

IET 01:2024 is a non-statutory IET standard and technical specification for Open combined Protective and Neutral conductor Detection Devices used with EV charging equipment. It sets out definitions, requirements and tests for how discrete or integrated OPDD functions should respond to open PEN conductor faults.

Internal PE breakage refers to a charger design where the charger has a means of interrupting or isolating the protective earth path internally as part of its response to a detected PEN fault condition.

IT earthing is an arrangement where the supply has no direct connection to earth or is connected through a high impedance. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

A modular RCD is a residual current device installed as a separate modular protective device, typically in a consumer unit or distribution board. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

An Open combined Protective and Neutral conductor Detection Device (OPDD) is a device or integrated EV charging function designed to detect conditions associated with an open PEN conductor fault and disconnect, or initiate disconnection of, the affected circuit or equipment. IET 01:2024 sets definitions, requirements and tests for OPDD behaviour.

Open PEN detection identifies conditions that may indicate a broken or disconnected combined protective and neutral conductor. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

Overcurrent protection protects conductors and equipment against excessive current caused by overloads or short circuits. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

Overcurrent protection rating is the current value assigned to a protective device, normally stated in amps. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

PEN-fault protection is protection against hazards caused by a broken or open combined protective and neutral conductor in PME/TN-C-S supplies. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

PME earthing is an earthing arrangement where the supply uses Protective Multiple Earthing with a combined neutral and protective function upstream. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

PME protection refers to protective measures used to address risks associated with Protective Multiple Earthing supplies, especially open PEN faults. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

Rated current is the maximum current a charger or electrical component is designed to carry under specified conditions. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

RCD Type A is a residual current device type designed to detect AC residual current and pulsating DC residual current. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

RCD Type B is a residual current device type capable of detecting AC, pulsating DC and smooth DC residual currents. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

RCD Type F is a residual current device type intended for certain single-phase circuits with frequency components, such as some equipment using variable-speed drives. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

A Residual Current Breaker with Overcurrent combines residual current protection and overcurrent protection in one device. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

A Residual Current Device (RCD) is a protective device that disconnects a circuit when it detects an imbalance between live conductors that may indicate earth leakage current. In EV charging, RCD selection must consider AC residual current, possible DC residual current and the protection already built into the charger.

Residual current protection detects imbalance between live conductors and disconnects the supply when leakage current may indicate an electric shock risk. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

A Residual Direct Current Detecting Device detects residual DC current in Mode 3 EV charging equipment. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

A shuttered socket includes a mechanical shutter or barrier over live contacts when no plug is inserted. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.

Surge protection reduces the risk of damage from transient overvoltages caused by lightning, switching events or network disturbances. It is normally assessed during product selection, circuit design, installation verification and maintenance of EV charging equipment.